BIRMINGHAM researchers today revealed they have made a pioneering breakthrough in the fight against cancer, using the common cold to kill diseased cells.

BIRMINGHAM University researchers today revealed they have made a pioneering breakthrough in the fight against cancer, using the common cold to kill diseased cells.

Professors at Birmingham University said they have genetically modified the cold virus to target harmful cancer cells instead.

Rather than delivering a drug, the enhanced form of the virus zaps cancer cells with proteins that cause them to die.

The breakthrough is now set to be trialled on patients with liver and skin cancers and could lead to much less gruelling treatment than chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Dr Daniel Palmer, from Birmingham University, said the technique targets a molecule called CD40, which normally plays a key role in activating the immune system, but which is also present in common tumours including breast, liver and skin cancers.

He said scientists believe this "immune reaction" may explain rare cases where tumours disappear without treatment.

Dr Palmer said: "This approach has a number of possible advantages over conventional therapies.

"It seems that targeting CD40 has a double benefit by both killing cells and activating the body?s immune system.

"It would be very beneficial if we can activate the body's own immune system against the tumour. This would help reduce the toxic side effects associated with chemotherapy and possible tackle microscopic secondary tumours."

Researchers from the university's Institute of Cancer Studies were today reporting the results of their study at the National Cancer Research Institute Conference in Birmingham.

Professor Lawrence Young, from the research centre, added: "We have shown that this technique can kill tumour cells in laboratory conditions.

"Now it is important to see whether this method could be effective in patients."

Birmingham University's Institute of Cancer Studies spends around #10 million a year to develop cures and treatment for cancer, of which more than half its funding comes from Cancer Research UK.

The Medical Research Council, the Leukaemia Research Fund and the Wellcome Trust. Institute also help fund the 250 staff.